Community News

WNMU Nursing students present their research through a poster presentation during the 19th Academic and Research Symposium, November 29, 2023The 20th WNMU Academic and Research Symposium and Career Expo will be held December 4-5, 2024. Students of all disciplines will present projects that pertain to research, public service, creative endeavors, and technology. The steering committee also encourages exhibits of scholarship and teaching along with any other innovative ideas and creative works for the education and enjoyment of the WNMU community and the public. The symposium will include individual and group presentations and will be held in J. Cloyd Miller Library, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

Iris DeMent
Wednesday, December 4
7pm
Fine Arts Center Theatre
$20

Iris DeMent is an American singer-songwriter and musician. DeMent's musical style includes elements of folk, country and gospel.

Single Socks, a Silver City non-profit thrift store, announced that it has awarded $51,500 – the largest amount in its 15-year history – in grants to five Grant County anti-hunger organizations and one public school, according to a news release issued by the store. The grants were awarded as part of the organization's Fall 2024 Grant Cycle.

Since its inception in 2009, Single Socks has given away over $660,000 to local food pantries, prepared meals, schools, and other food distribution organizations that serve families in need.

The $51,500 in grant awards is the largest amount in the store's history, according to the news release. Jeff Goin, board president of Single Socks, says that this giving is the result of a collective effort.

[Editor's Note: For context see reply from WNMU Board of Regents president at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/community/community-news/statement-from-wnmu-regents-president-in-response-to-letter-of-concern-from-nm-state-auditor ]

State of New Mexico
Office of the State Auditor

Western New Mexico University Faces Financial Oversight Challenges

Santa Fe, NM –The Office of State Auditor, Special Investigations Division (SID) recently concluded its examination of allegations asserting that Western New Mexico University's engaged in the waste of public funds. Expenditures related to procurement and travel during the period of July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2023 ("the period"), including specific examples noted within the allegations, were examined. Several instances of wasteful spending and improper use of university funds were found during the investigation.

[Editor's Note: As context, please see the document sent by the state auditor at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/community/community-news/western-new-mexico-university-faces-financial-oversight-challenges ]

As Chair of the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents, I appreciate the time and insights from the Office of the State Auditor.  These are serious concerns which have been addressed by Western New Mexico University leadership. This includes a comprehensive review of cost disparities; updating of University policies to align with applicable state guidelines and regulations; revised travel and procurement procedures as well as staff training to ensure compliance; and initiating an independent cost-benefit analysis of international initiatives. The University has also engaged an independent auditor to conduct a Special Audit of the concerns raised, this is ongoing. 

By Cheryl Thornburg   Courtesy Photos by credited photographers. 

They didn’t quite have to move mountains, but the volunteers who dismantled, transported and re-installed the playground equipment at Glenwood Community Park accomplished a monumental task.

The equipment was originally installed at Glenwood Elementary School and served its students until 2017 when it closed due to insufficient enrollment.

With the school shuttered, the playground stood mostly unused and unmaintained and the Glenwood Woman’s Club began to explore the possibility of relocating the equipment. It took years of research, working with government and school officials and organizations, but this year the project finally became a reality.

Members of WILL and representatives of the WNMU Foundation gathered to mark the establishment of the WILL Scholarship for Lifelong Learners, Oct. 28, 2024. Standing (L-R) are Scholarship Fund Account Manager George Turner, Executive Director of WILL Mary Odessa (MaryO) Parker, WILL Advisory Board President Patty Reed, Executive Director of the WNMU Foundation Jodi Edens-Crocker, and WILL Advisory Board Treasurer Len LambertSILVER CITY, NM—The WNMU Foundation and the Western Institute of Lifelong Learning (WILL) held a signing event on October 28, 2024 to mark the establishment of the new WILL Scholarship for Lifelong Learners.

SILVER CITY, NM – Marilyn Tafoya was not sure what she wanted to study when she first transferred to WNMU from San Juan College; she just felt the university was a good choice for her. "I wanted to pick a school with many online options, and of course, affordability was important. WNMU stood out to me as being a good option," she said.

Tafoya, who is Jicarilla Apache, Kiowa and Cheyenne and lives in northern New Mexico, at first thought she might focus on the natural sciences. "I really like the field of science, but I am a former high school drop-out," she explained, "so it was a bit challenging for me to have to learn all of that—especially in chemistry, as that felt like a whole new alien language."

When she started taking psychology classes, she knew she had found the right fit. "I would like to try to become a mental health counselor," she said. "Coming from the reservation community, I see a lot of unhealthy family dynamics, personal life dynamics and just a lot of traumatic events that have happened in families." Like many Native American peoples, the Jicarilla have experienced the generational trauma caused by colonization, relocation, broken treaties and cultural dispossession.